Quote of
the Day:
Rembrandt. The Martyrdom of St. Stephen
“The blood of the martyrs is the
seed [of the Church].”
--Tertullian of Carthage
Theology of Martyrdom
1. Persecution under Trajan in 112 AD.
2. Martyrs of Vienne and Lyons (177 AD).
3. Martyrdom and Christian self-definition.
4. Martyr-Acts and Hagiographic Pattern-
Making.
5. Imitatio Christi.
6. Participation in the Suffering of Christ.
St. Sebastian
Persecution under the Emperor Trajan
• Time: 112AD
• Place: Bythinia, Asia Minor
• Occasion: Pliny toured his
province and discovered a
group that looked like a
secret society
Pliny the Younger
Emperor Trajan 98-117
Governor of Bythinia 111-113
Map
Persecution under the Emperor Trajan
• Time: 112AD
• Place: Bythinia, Asia Minor
• Occasion: Pliny toured his
province and discovered a
group that looked like a
secret society
Pliny the Younger
Emperor Trajan 98-117
Governor of Bythinia 111-113
Testimony about Christian practices
Christians meet on Sunday
Sing a hymn to Christ „as
to a god‟
Promise to each other to
live good lives
Eat together
Pliny‟s conclusion:
„depraved, excessive
superstition‟ Banquet Scene. Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome. 3 rd c.
What problems do Christians cause?
Temples deserted
Nobody buys sacrificial
animals
Christians disrupt local
economy
The remains of the temple dedicated to
Trajan in Pergamum.
Trajan’s reply to Pliny
Do not seek Christians out
Do not consider anonymous accusations
Give Christians a chance to sacrifice
Punish only those who refuse to sacrifice
Martyrs of Vienne and Lyons, 177 AD
Map 2nd c.
100 200 300
35-107 Ignatius of Antioch
69-155 Polycarp
84-160 Marcion; 100-160 Justin
105?-165? Valentinus
130?-180? Ptolemy
130-200 Irenaeus of Lyons
150-215 Clement of Alexandria
150-236? Hippolytus
160-225 Tertullian
185-254 Origen
Martyrdom of St. Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155 AD)
Proconsul: “Swear by the fortune
of Caesar. Say: „Away with the
atheists.‟ Curse Christ.”
Polycarp: “How can I blaspheme
my King who saved me?..
I am a Christian.
Imitatio Christi
“Be imitators of me, as I am of
Christ.” 1 Cor. 11: 1.
“Allow me to be the imitator of the
sufferings of my God.”
--Ignatius of Antioch, Romans 6. 3.
Crucifixion of St Peter.
Filippino Lippi, Brancacci
chapel, Florence, 15th c
Pattern-making within the NT
Luke 23: 34, 46 Acts 7: 59-60
The Last Words of Jesus The Last Words of Stephen
the Protomartyr
Then Jesus said, “Father, Then [Stephen] knelt down
forgive them; for they do not and cried out in a loud voice,
know what they are doing.” “Lord, do not hold this sin
(v. 34, some MSS lack) […] against them.” (v. 60)
Then Jesus, crying with a While they were stoning
loud voice, said, “Father, into Stephen, he prayed, “Lord
your hands I commend my Jesus, receive my spirit.” (v.
spirit.” (v. 46). 59).
Hagiographic Pattern-Making
OT prophecy => Life of Jesus
Passion Narrative => Martyrdom of Polycarp
Life of Constantine => Conversion of barbarian
kings
Life of Antony => Medieval monastic lives
Life of St. Martin => Stories about military saints
Participation in the Suffering of Christ
D[omi]ne, quo vadis?
Quo Vadis story in the Passion of Peter and Paul. 11th c. ms.
Execution of Blandina (177 CE)
Blandina was hung up fastened to a stake and exposed, as food to the
wild beasts that were let loose against her. Because she appeared as if
hanging on a cross and because of her earnest prayers, she inspired
the combatants with great zeal. For they looked on this sister in her
combat and saw, with their bodily eyes, Him who was crucified for them,
that He might persuade those who trust in Him that every one who
suffers for the glory of Christ has eternal communion with the living
God. When none of the wild beasts at that time touched her, she was
taken down from the stake and taken back to prison. She was
preserved for another contest. By gaining the victory in more conflicts,
she might make the condemnation of the Crooked Serpent
unquestionable, and she might encourage the brethren. Though she
was an insignificant, weak, and despised woman, yet she was clothed
with the great and invincible athlete Christ. On many occasions she had
overpowered the enemy, and in the course of the contest had woven for
herself the crown of incorruption.
--Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History.
“HERE ARE THE MARTYRS SATURUS, SATURNINUS,
REVOCATUS, SECUNDULUS, FELICITAS, PERPETUA,
WHO SUFFERED ON THE NONES (7TH) OF MARCH”
Inscription over the Tomb of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas. Basilica Majorum,
Carthage.
St. Perpetua & St. Felicitas
Basilica of Euphrasius, Porec, Croatia. 6th c. A. D.
Church of St Felicita, Florence.
Does this ladder look familiar?
Visions of the afterlife
Perpetua‟s Ladder (4)
Perpetua‟s brother (7-8)
Saturus‟vision (11-13)
Perpetua the Gladiator (10)
Patronage of the codex
Martyrs:
Martyr Petronilla (right)
introduces Veneranda (left)
to paradise.
Arcosolium of Petronilla and
Veneranda, Catacomb of
Domitilla. Rome. After 356.
scrolls
Modern Christian Martyrs
Elizabeth of Russia Esther John
Martin Luther King
Maximilian Manche
Oscar Romero
Kolbe Masemola
Janani Lucian
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Tapiedi Wang Zhiming
Luwum